Different Versions of the 4.0

[brianhood]

Hello Everyone,
Ok, I’ve thought about what everyone has been saying about the 4.0 v. The 3.0. I looked at car-part.com and there seems to be several different versions of the 4.0. For example, it seems that the 4.0 Ranger is listed as being different than the 4.0 for a Sport Trac. Or, a 4.0 from an Explorer is listed as being different than a 4.0 from a Ranger. What is the difference? Is it something that I could change the fuel system or intakes and use the 4.0 from another vehicle? My point for asking is that I’ve found a local u-pull it that has a 4.0 in a wrecked 2 door Explorer. I’m assuming that it was running when it was wrecked. Thoughts?

 

[racsan]

it is hard to wreck a non-running vehicle.

 

[brianhood]

What are the differences between a 4.0 in an Explorer v a Ranger v a Sport Trac? Can one be adapted by switching parts from one to another?

 

[Curious Hound]

Start Here

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

it is hard to wreck a non-running vehicle.

Look it over good. It might have sat there idling for awhile after the coolant bled out. Or it might have been clinging to life before the wreck. Or may have died 5 years ago and a tree fell on it.

 

[RonD]

1990-2000 Rangers used the 4.0l OHV engine, 160HP

1991-2000 Explorers used 4.0 OHV but had an optional 4.0l SOHC(207HP) available from 1997 to 2000

2001 Rangers and Explorers only used the 4.0l SOHC engine, explorers also had V8 engine option

Sport Trac 2001-2010 used the 4.0l SOHC, 2006 to 2010 it had optional 4.6l V8

4.0l OHV and SOHC used the same engine mounts and transmission bolt pattern, but thats all they had in common besides displacement
They need to use different wiring harnesses and Computers

The 1997 to 2003 4.0l SOHC engines had timing chain tensioner issues which were mostly resolved by 2004, but the two long chain tensioners should be replaced, IMO, every 100k miles, on any 4.0l SOHC engine, its not hard to do

 

[franklin2]

Car-part is going to list the engines depending on if the are plug and play or not. So if Ford changed a little wiring here or there and changed a plug-in, or used a re-routed intake system, etc. they are going to list it differently because someone replacing a engine wants it to drop in and plug up and go. So the differences could be very minor.

 

[Shran]

90-92 had different heads and fuel rail than 93-up OHV, 95 up OHV had different intake manifold, sensors are wired differently, some have EGR, some do not, some Ranger engines do not have a cam sensor, 94+ for sure does

SOHC 4.0s have fewer variants but like Ron said there are the chain tensioner issues.

Best bet - if you can give us the year of YOUR truck and the exact year and model of the DONOR, we can tell you if it will work or not.

 

[brianhood]

My sport trac that needs an engine is an 05. The Ranger that I found at a local u pull it is an 02.

 

[RonD]

Then engines are both the same, 4.0l SOHC models
But you will need to check the chains on the 2002, and for sure install new tensioners

The engine has to be out to change the rear timing chain and guide, but not the tensioners
If you can hear the engine run and there are no Rattles(broken guides) then just new tensioners would be fine

If you can't hear the engine run then its a big gamble to NOT change the rear and front timing chains and guides while engine is out, roll of the dice, for 1997-2003 4.0l SOHC
You could pull the valve covers and have a look at the guides front and rear, see it either is loose/broken

 

[racsan]

youre going to have the engine out between one vehicle vs another, Id do the chains regardless of hearing it run. You’ll probably never have to worry about that part again.